Boca Awaits Report On Dump`s Threat To Water

July 2, 1986|By Barbara J. Durkin, Staff Writer

BOCA RATON -- As residents to the city`s west gather ammunition to fight the dump being considered for their area, the City Council on Monday is scheduled to hear the results of a study it commissioned to determine if the project presents a threat to the water supply here.

A spokesman for Camp Dresser & McKee, the city`s consulting engineers, said the study will be wrapped up this week and presented to the council during Monday`s session.

The report, commissioned at the request of council member Al Edmunds, will indicate whether the landfill slated for a 1,300-acre tract between the Hillsboro Canal and Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge has the potential to contaminate the city`s drinking water supply.

According to Mayor Bill Konrad, who is also a member of the county Solid Waste Authority, his opposition to the dump would stem from concern for Boca Raton`s water supply.

The other reasons residents of the city`s outlying areas to the west are opposed to the landfill don`t hold the same importance for the city, Konrad said.

The mayor said the findings of the study conducted for the Solid Waste Authority stating there were no overwhelming environmental concerns to rule the site out did not present enough factual data for the city to go on.

The council unanimously supported Edmunds` suggestion at a recent meeting that it have its own consultants examine the risk to the water supply.

Edmunds said that should the study indicate there is potential for contamination of the city water and the Solid Waste Authority proceeds with plans to locate the dump at the site, he would request council hire a lawyer and seek an injunction to stop the action.

Because the city was in a hurry to receive the study results, the consulting engineers were instructed to do the work without a fee being set, according to City Manager Jim Rutherford, who said he does not know how much the work will cost.

The Solid Waste Authority is expected to make a decision on the fate of the landfill within the month.

A public hearing is scheduled July 10. Several community groups are gearing up to oppose the dump`s construction because they fear it will bring odors and increased traffic while lowering property values.